POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: DOUBLE_DECKER on February 19, 2012, 05:13:35 pm
-
I got my bloods taken and I got the results which showed my CD4 count was 860 and my viral load was 400.
-
I got my bloods taken and I got the results which showed my CD4 count was 860 and my viral load was 400.
There's no way to know from counts alone how long you've been infected.
With that said however, usually when someone has very recently seroconverted their CD4 drops dramatically and their viral load spikes. This is then followed by a reverse in both of those trends as your body gets the infection under "control"
-
It's pretty much impossible to know when you were infected going by your numbers. Everyone's body reacts to hiv differently. Normally, the only way to know for sure is to go by previous negative results. If you never tested before getting the positive result, it's anyone's guess.
With numbers like yours, you could have been infected six months ago or six years ago, or any time since you've been sexually active.
Your numbers are fantastic, by the way. :)
One question I have to ask - was your positive diagnosis confirmed with a Western Blot test? Sometimes viral load testing can come back with low numbers like yours, when there isn't actually any virus there. This is why viral load testing isn't recommended for diagnostic purposes - they can give false positive results.
On the other hand, if you have been confirmed positive with additional testing (the WB), you just might be a long-term non-progessor (LTNP). This means that you might not need meds for a long time as your body can suppress the virus with no outside help. You can read more about non-progressors at The Zephyr Foundation (http://www.zephyrfoundation.org/).
-
I'd have to agree with the others here - far too often the viral load and CD4 count have nothing to do with the length of time you've been infected. Personally, I went through almost 3 years with no load and "normal" T-cell counts before landing on my back in the emergency room with advanced pneumocystis... that was only 3 months after the last batch of tests.
Personally, as a long-term survivor, I believe "when" you became infected really isn't the point. The point is you are - now what are you going to do about it. Living with HIV presents a whole boat-load of new objectives, limitations, and aggravations you've never had to deal with before. One of the most important things you need to develop early-on is a good, solid support system. Your HIV specialist will be central in that, but just as important are your friends, family, good neighbors, councilors, and (if you're religious) pastors/rabbis/priests. Even a hard-core battle-axe like me needs to lean on somebody once in a while. ;)
-
I've been diagnosed positive for 10 months now. And all I can say is time will tell with all of this. the good thing about that reading is you don't have to start on Atripla or a harder regimen since you started with a low VL. I believe complera was approved for people with Viral Load readings under 100k and if there is the option for a simple once a day treatment take it! I was on atripla, however the sustiva in it started becoming less effective. Now I take 6 HIV pills a day, and about 5 for side affects. And waiting to start treatment to me is scary. Why let your viral load rise, and your cd4's drop when you don't have to and we have great meds with lower side affects available to people who get diagnosed early enough. Cause after your cd4's go below 200 or 300 your doctor will put you on a prophylactic for PJP Pnumonia. I take dapsone for that, but they usually start you on bactrin which landed me in the hospital. So the moral of the story, get tested often (which you did you thats a gold star), and start therapy early looking at it from a long term view. And take control of your health, it's all you got. You'll be fine! And I'm also sorry that you had to get the diagnosis even though the companies paint it as an easy to handle disease, the worst part of it is the psycological effect and stigmas you'll experience. But stay strong, keep your friends close, go to all your appointments, and take care of yourself and you'll live forever (well not forever, lol)!
-
i have to agree with the others there but i do know i got tested once every 6 monthes but i was tested back in nov of 2011 gotten the test back in dec my cd was 223 with v/l of 250k
-
but i did find out that other's cd4 counts range from 500-1200 that r neg